Modular automatic traveling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A modular automatic traveling apparatus includes a seat and an external coupling device mounted onto the seat. The seat includes a moving device to allow the seat to move automatically and an assembling passage which has two ends formed respectively an inlet and a holding orifice. The holding orifice has a detent portion on the perimeter thereof. The external coupling device has an installation portion which is inserted into the assembling passage through the inlet and latched on the detent portion and anchored on the holding orifice, thus is movable automatically with the seat. Users can change the external coupling devices with varying functions such as a vacuum cleaner, odorator and the like to automatically perform different types of tasks through the automatic movement of the seat.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular automatic traveling apparatus and particularly to a modular automatic traveling apparatus coupled with a detachable external device to automatically perform varying tasks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Advance of technology has spawned automatic moving devices to automatically perform some tasks, such as cleaning and sweeping, to save manpower and improve life quality in homes.

For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,880 discloses a cleaning robot that includes a moving unit which moves the main unit, a collecting unit for suctioning dust and particles on the floor into the main unit, and a wiping unit for wiping the floor using detergent, disinfectant, wax, etc.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,883,201 also discloses an autonomous floor-cleaning robot comprising a self-adjusting cleaning head subsystem that includes a dual-stage brush assembly having counter-rotating, asymmetric brushes and an adjacent, but independent, vacuum assembly such that the cleaning capability and efficiency of the self-adjustable cleaning head subsystem is optimized while concomitantly minimizing the power requirements thereof. The autonomous floor-cleaning robot further includes a side brush assembly for directing particulates outside the envelope of the robot into the self-adjusting cleaning head subsystem.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,827,654 discloses a self-traveling cleaner including a main body, the main body has a reverse side provided with a pair of driving wheels and a pair of auxiliary wheels. A brush mechanism is horizontally rotatably provided in a depression formed on a part of the reverse side. An inlet is further provided on the reverse side of the main body. A dust collector is connected to the inlet. The brush mechanism includes a rotation axis extending perpendicular to a floor surface, one arm made of elastic resin projecting laterally from a lower end of the rotation shaft, and a brush planted on an end portion of the arm toward the floor surface. The brush projects outwardly from the main body to collect dust near a wall surface, for example, while the arm rotates within the first rotation angle range, and the brush sweeps the collected dust toward the inlet while the arm rotates within the second rotation angle range.

All the aforesaid conventional techniques mainly include an automatic moving robot with a specific cleaning tool mounted thereon to perform cleaning tasks such as dust suction, floor sweeping or wiping, floor waxing and the like while the robot is moving. As the tool held on the robot only has single function, it can perform merely one type of task. Moreover, the robot has size limitation and cannot hold various types of tools. If users want to perform multiple types of tasks, they have to buy other dedicated robots. It becomes an extra burden to the users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to solve the aforesaid disadvantages by providing an automatic traveling apparatus that can be coupled with various types of detachable external devices to automatically perform different tasks.

To achieve the foregoing object, the present invention provides a modular automatic traveling apparatus which includes a seat and an external coupling device mounted onto the seat. The seat includes a moving device to allow the seat to move automatically and an assembling passage which has two ends formed respectively an inlet and a holding orifice. The holding orifice has a detent portion on the perimeter thereof. The external coupling device has an installation portion which can be inserted into the assembling passage through the inlet and latched on the detent portion and anchored on the holding orifice, thus is movable automatically with the seat.

In an embodiment of the invention, the seat includes an upper case and a lower case coupled with the upper case to hold a holding barrel between them. The holding barrel is hollow to form the assembling passage and has the inlet and holding orifice at two ends. The upper case and lower case have respectively a first opening and a second opening corresponding to the inlet and the holding orifice. The holding barrel and installation portion of the external coupling device further have respectively a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion to form retaining relationship between them. The holding barrel and lower case also have respectively a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion to form coupling between them. The external coupling device may be an air humidifier, ordorator or vacuum cleaner.

By means of the technique set forth above, the invention can be coupled with various types of external coupling devices to meet modular requirements.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of yet another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIG. 1, the present invention aims to provide a modular automatic traveling apparatus mainly adopted for use in indoor environment such as house or office. It includes a seat 10 with automatic traveling function and an external coupling device 30 mounted onto the seat 10. The seat 10 can move automatically and perform specific task such as cleaning through the external coupling device 30 during moving.

Also referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the seat 10 includes an upper case 11 and a lower case 12 coupled with the upper case 11. The lower case 12 includes a moving device 13 which includes a control unit 131 (such as a circuit board), a driving unit 132 (such as a motor) electrically connected to the control unit 131, a driving wheel set 133 electrically connected to the driving unit 132 and an auxiliary wheel set 134. The control unit 131 can set a moving path and activate operation of the driving wheel set 133 through the driving unit 132 and also drive rotation of the auxiliary wheel set 134 so that the seat 10 can automatically travel along the set path. The lower case 12 further is coupled with a floor wiping device 14 at a lower side to wipe and clean the floor during automatic movement of the seat 10.

The upper case 11 and lower case 12 have respectively a first opening 111 and a second opening 121 corresponding to each other and hold a holding barrel 20 between them. The holding barrel 20 is hollow and forms an assembling passage 22 which has two ends formed respectively an inlet 23 corresponding to the first opening 111 and a holding orifice 24 corresponding to the second opening 121. The holding orifice 24 has a detent portion 25 on the perimeter thereof. The holding barrel 20 is anchored on the lower case 12 through a first coupling portion 21 and a second coupling portion 122 formed respectively thereon. The first and second coupling portions 21 and 122 are respectively a lug and an insertion trough mating each other to hold the holding barrel 20 securely on the lower case 12.

Referring to FIG. 4, the external coupling device 30 has an installation portion 31 coupled with the seat 10. The installation portion 31 is inserted into the assembling passage 22 through the inlet 23, and latched on the detent portion 25 and anchored on the holding orifice 24. In addition, the holding barrel 20 and external coupling device 30 have respectively a first retaining portion 26 and a second retaining portion 32 that are respectively a lug and a groove to form anchoring and retaining effect between them. The first retaining portion 26 and second retaining portion 32 also are formed at desired locations to provide a fool-proof effect when in use. For instance, in an embodiment of the invention, the installation portion 31 and holding barrel 20 have respectively four contact surfaces mating each other. The first and second retaining portions 26 and 32 are located on three of the mating contact surfaces to confine the direction that the installation portion 31 is inserted into the assembling passage 22. The external coupling device 30 shown in the drawing is a vacuum cleaner that can perform dust suction while the seat 10 moves automatically.

The external coupling device 30 is not limited to the vacuum cleaner, but may also be other devices as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The external coupling device 30 a may be an air humidifier as shown in FIG. 5. The external coupling device 30 a has an installation portion 31 a and a second retaining portion 32 a formed on the installation portion 31 a. The seat 10 can detect the humidity in the air during automatic movement. If the humidity in the air is inadequate, the external coupling device 30 a automatically ejects mist to maintain a desired humidity in the air. The external coupling device 30 b may also be an odorator as shown in FIG. 6. It also has an installation portion 31 b and a second retaining portion 32 b formed on the installation portion 31 b. The external coupling device 30 b can eject odor with a constant amount at a fixed interval or when undesirable air quality in the environment is detected.

As a conclusion, the invention mainly provides an assembling passage 22 on the seat 10 and external coupling devices 30, 30 a and 30 b with respectively an installation portion 31, 31 a and 31 b inserted into the assembling passage 22. Thereby the seat 10 can incorporate with various types of external coupling devices 30, 30 a and 30 b, such as a vacuum cleaner, air humidifier and odorator mentioned above to form modular configuration. When in use, users can change the external coupling devices 30, 30 a and 30 b as required to perform varying functions without purchasing other dedicated automatic apparatus for different tasks.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A modular automatic traveling apparatus, comprising: a seat which includes a moving device to allow the seat to move automatically and an assembling passage including an inlet and a holding orifice at two ends thereof, and a detent portion located on the perimeter of the holding orifice; and an external coupling device which includes an installation portion inserted into the assembling passage through the inlet and latched on the detent portion and anchored on the holding orifice to be moved automatically with the seat.
 2. The modular automatic traveling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seat includes an upper case and a lower case coupled with the upper case to hold a holding barrel between them, the holding barrel being hollow to form the assembling passage and including the inlet and the holding orifice at two ends.
 3. The modular automatic traveling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the upper case and the lower case include respectively a first opening and a second opening respectively corresponding to the inlet and the holding orifice.
 4. The modular automatic traveling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the holding barrel and the installation portion of the external coupling device include respectively a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion to form retaining relationship between them.
 5. The modular automatic traveling apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first retaining portion and the second retaining portion are respectively a lug and a groove.
 6. The modular automatic traveling apparatus of claim 2, wherein the holding barrel and the lower case include respectively a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion that are coupled with each other.
 7. The modular automatic traveling apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are respectively a lug and an insertion trough.
 8. The modular automatic traveling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external coupling device is an air humidifier.
 9. The modular automatic traveling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external coupling device is an odorator.
 10. The modular automatic traveling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the external coupling device is a vacuum cleaner. 